DEERFIELD — State Senator Julie Morrison is spearheading a measure that would streamline dental coverage reimbursement for dental care providers.

“Navigating insurance and reimbursement policies can be difficult and confusing for both the patient and provider,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Clarifying which forms of payment a provider can accept and how they can opt in to that payment system will streamline dental services, ensuring residents can get the quality care they need and dentists can receive the reimbursement they’re owed.”

Currently, dental providers have experienced a loss of reimbursement funds due to fees associated with bank-to-bank, or ACH, transactions. If a provider can’t opt out of the use of electronic transfers for reimbursement purposes, the electronic processing fee can be subtracted from their reimbursement, leading to payment of less than 100% of what the provider is owed.

Morrison’s measure would address this issue by strengthening the current law regarding the use of credit cards and electronic transfers to pay or reimburse dentists. The legislation would prohibit insurers, dental service plan corporations, professional service corporations or insurance network leasing companies from requiring a dental care provider to only accept payment from a credit card or electronic funds transfer. The measure would also prohibit insurers and managed care plans from using the dentist’s preferred method of payment as a factor when deciding whether to provide them with credentials.

House Bill 4464 passed the Senate Thursday.